Multi-compartment grease tray

ABSTRACT

An outdoor cooking grill includes a removeable grease drip pan. The grease drip pan has a number of removable fluid pans designed to collect grease and/or other fluid.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to outdoor cooking grills andmore particularly to outdoor cooking grills with grease drip pans.

BACKGROUND

Preparing meats and other foods on an outdoor cooking grill is awell-known activity. The user places uncooked food on a grill surfaceand exposes it to heat to prepare the food as desired. During cooking,grease may drip from the food, and the outdoor cooking grill may collectthe grease in a grease drip pan. When the grease fills the pan, the usermust empty and clean the pan.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect, an outdoor cooking grill is disclosed. Theoutdoor cooking grill has a grilling surface and a first heating elementpositioned below the grilling surface. The outdoor cooking grill alsohas a drip pan positioned below the first heating element. The drip panincludes a bottom wall and a first pair of rails extending upwardly fromthe bottom wall. The first pair of rails is positioned below the firstheating element. A first fluid pan is supported on the first pair ofrails of the drip pan. The first fluid pan is removeable from the drippan.

In some embodiments, the outdoor cooking grill further includes a grillhousing having a lower wall with a first number of holes definedtherein. The lower wall is positioned between the first heating elementand the first fluid pan such that fluid passes through the first numberof holes and into the first fluid pan. Additionally, in someembodiments, the outdoor cooking grill includes a frame. The grillhousing is secured to the frame, and the drip pan is moveable relativeto the grill housing. In some embodiments, the drip pan is removablefrom the frame.

In some embodiments the outdoor cooking grill includes a second heatingelement positioned below the grilling surface. The drip pan furtherincludes a second pair of rails extending upwardly from the bottom wall.The second pair of rails is positioned below the second heating element.The outdoor cooking grill also includes a second fluid pan supported bythe second pair of rails of the drip pan. The second fluid pan isremovable from the drip pan.

In some embodiments, the lower wall of the grill housing has a secondnumber of holes defined therein. The lower wall is positioned betweenthe second heating element and the second fluid pan such that fluidpasses through the second number of holes and into the second fluid pan.

In some embodiments, the outdoor cooking grill includes a third fluidpan. The third fluid pan contacts the bottom wall of the drip pan. Thethird fluid pan is removable from the drip pan. In some embodiments, thesecond fluid pan is positioned parallel to the first fluid pan in thedrip pan. Additionally, in some embodiments, the third fluid pan ispositioned perpendicular to the first fluid pan and the second fluid panin the drip pan.

The outdoor cooking grill further includes a grill housing. The grillhousing has a front panel with control knobs mounted thereto. The drippan is positioned below the first panel of the grill housing.Additionally, the outdoor cooking grill further includes a lid securedto the grill housing. The lid rotates relative to the grill housingbetween an open position in which the grilling surface is uncovered, anda closed position in which the lid encloses the grilling surface.

In some embodiments, the first fluid pan has a pair of grooves thatreceive the first pair of rails, and the second fluid pan has a pair ofgrooves that receive the second pair of rails

According to another aspect, an outdoor cooking grill includes a grillhousing having a lower wall, a grilling surface secured to the grillhousing, a first heating element positioned below the grilling surface,and a second heating element positioned below the grilling surface. Theoutdoor cooking grill also includes a drip pan positioned below thefirst and second heating elements. The drip pan includes a bottom walland a first pair of rails extending upwardly from the bottom wall, whichare positioned below the first heating element. The drip pan alsoincludes a second pair of rails extending upwardly from the bottom wall,which are positioned below the second heating element. The outdoorcooking grill also includes a first removeable fluid pan supported bythe first pair of rails of the drip pan, and a second removeable fluidpan supported by the first pair of rails of the drip pan.

According to another aspect, an outdoor cooking grill includes agrilling surface and a pair of heating elements positioned below thegrilling surface. A drip pan is positioned below the heating elements.The drip pan includes a pair of removable fluid pans respectivelypositioned below the heating elements. The removable fluid pans arepositioned parallel to one another. A third removable fluid pan ispositioned perpendicular to the other fluid pans.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the following figures,in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an outdoor cooking grill;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the outdoor cookinggrill lid opened;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the grease drip pan of the outdoor cookinggrill of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the grease drip pan of FIG.3 with the plug positioned in the drain hole of the grease drip pan;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 6, but showing the plug removedfrom the drain hole of the grease drip pan;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the grease drip pan of FIG.3 showing the plug positioned in the drain hole of the grease drip pan;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but showing the plug removed fromthe drain hole of the grease drip pan;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an outdoor cooking grill with anotherembodiment of the grease drip pan;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the grease drip pan the outdoor cookinggrill of FIG. 8 showing a number of fluid pans housed in the grease drippan;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9, but showing the fluid pans removedfrom the grease drip pan;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of one of the fluid pans of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the fluid pan of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment of one of the fluidpans of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the concepts of the present disclosure are susceptible to variousmodifications and alternative forms, specific exemplary embodimentsthereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and willherein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, thatthere is no intent to limit the concepts of the present disclosure tothe particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is tocover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling withinthe spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Referring to FIG. 1, an outdoor cooking grill 10 includes a grillhousing 12, a grease drip pan 14, and a frame 16. The grill housing 12is secured to the frame 16. For example, the grill housing 12 may besecured to the frame 16 via suitable fasteners such as screws, bolts, orthe like. It should be appreciated that in other embodiments the grillhousing 12 and the frame 16 could be formed as a monolithic component.

A lid 18 including a handle 20 is secured to the grill housing 12. Thelid 18 is hinged to the back edge of the grill housing 12. The handle 20is operable by the user to rotate the lid 18 relative to the grillhousing 12.

Referring to FIG. 2, the grill housing 12 includes a grilling surface22, a lower wall 24, a number of heating elements such as burners 26,28, and a front panel 30. User access to the grilling surface 22 ispermitted when the lid 18 is in an opened position. When the lid 18 isin a closed position, the lid 18 encloses the grilling surface 22 andprevents user access to the grilling surface 22 (see FIG. 1). Theburners 26, 28 are secured to the grill housing 12 at a position betweenthe grilling surface 22 and the lower wall 24. A number of control knobs32 are mounted on the front panel 30. The control knobs 32 are operableto control the burners 26, 28.

The grilling surface 22 is configured to receive foodstuffs (not shown)for cooking. A number of holes 34 extend through the lower wall 24 ofthe grill housing 12. Grease or fluid draining from the foodstuffspositioned on the grilling surface 22 passes through the number of holes34 out of the grill housing 12 and into the drip pan 14.

The drip pan 14 is positioned below the grill housing 12. The drip pan14 includes a pair of rails 40, 42 that are received in a pair ofcorresponding slots (not shown) in the frame 16. The drip pan 14 alsoincludes a handle 44 that is operable by the user to slide the drip pan14 between a cooking position (not shown) in which the drip pan 14 isretracted into the frame 16 and a cleaning position (see FIG. 2) inwhich the drip pan 14 is extended out of the frame 16. The drip pan 14is positioned below the burners 26, 28 and the lower wall 24 when thedrip pan 14 is in the cooking position. In some embodiments, the drippan 14 is also removable from the frame 16. Additionally, in someembodiments, the drip pan 14 may be fixed relative to the grill housing12 in the cooking position.

The handle 44 has an upper surface 50 and an outer wall 52. The outerwall 52 extends downwardly from the upper surface 50. The handle 44 ofthe drip pan 14 is positioned below the front panel 30 of the grillhousing 12 when the drip pan 14 is in the cooking position. The outerwall 52 of the handle 44 is configured to be flush with the front panel30 of the grill housing 12 when the drip pan 14 is in the cookingposition.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the drip pan 14 includes a tray 100 having abottom surface 102. The tray 100 is configured to contain fluid drainingfrom the grill housing 12. A set of side walls 104, 106, 108, and 110extend upwardly from the bottom surface 102 to form a volume to containfluid within the tray 100. The handle 44 is secured to the side wall104, and the rails 40, 42 are secured to the side walls 106, 108,respectively.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the side wall 104 has an inner surface112, an outer surface 114, and a drain hole 116. The drain hole 116extends from the inner surface 112 to the outer surface 114 of the sidewall 102. As discussed in more detail below, the hole 116 is configuredsuch that fluid may pass from the tray 100 through the hole 116 to theexterior of the drip pan 14.

A drain assembly 120 is positioned below the upper surface 50 of thehandle 44. The drain assembly 120 includes a plug 124, a grip 126, and abrace 128. The brace 128 is secured to the side wall 104 of the drip pan14 via a pair of rods 122 and a pair of guides 130 such that the brace128 is maintained in a fixed position relative to the side wall 104.

The grip 126 includes a mounting block 132 having a hand loop 134secured to one side thereof. The plug 124 is secured to the other sideof the mounting block 132 via a pair of screws 136. The rods 122 andguides 130 extend through the mounting block 132. As such, the mountingblock 132 slides back and forth along the rods 122 and the guides 130. Apair of springs 138, 140 extend over the pair of rods 122. The springs138, 140 urge the mounting block 132 toward the side wall 104 therebyplacing the plug 124 into the drain hole 116.

Referring to FIGS. 4-7, the grip 126 (and hence the plug 124) is movablerelative to the side wall 104. The grip 126 slides back and forth overthe rods 122 and the guides 130 to selectively drain or seal the drippan 14. In particular, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the springs 138, 140exert a spring bias on the grip 126 that positions the plug 124 in thedrain hole 116. The plug 124 is sized such that fluid is prevented frompassing through the drain hole 116 when the plug 124 is positioned inthe drain hole 116.

The grip 126 is operable by the user to remove the plug 124 from thedrain hole 116. In particular, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, when the usergrabs the grip 126 and pulls it in the direction away from the side wall104, the springs 138, 140 are compressed and the plug 124 is moved outof the drain hole 116. When the plug 124 is removed from the drain hole116 in such a manner, fluid (e.g., grease) may pass from the tray 100through the drain hole 116 to the exterior of the drip pan 14. Thegrease may be collected in a receptacle such as a bucket. When the userreleases the grip 126, the springs 132, 134 urge the plug 124 back intoposition in the drain hole 116 thereby sealing again the drip pan 14.

In some embodiments, the drain hole 116 may be defined in the bottomsurface 102 of the tray 102. In such cases, the plug 124 is alsopositioned in the drain hole 116 of the bottom surface 102 to preventfluid from passing through it. An elongated rod or other linkage (notshown) may be used to couple the grip 126 located on the front of thedrip pan 14 to such a remotely located plug 124.

Referring now to FIGS. 8-13, the outdoor cooking grill 10 is shown witha different embodiment of a drip pan (hereinafter referenced as a drippan 214). Some features of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8-13 aresubstantially similar to those discussed above in reference to theembodiment of FIGS. 1-7. Such features are designated in FIGS. 8-13 withthe same reference numbers as those used in FIGS. 1-7.

The drip pan 214 includes a number of fluid pans 216 housed in a tray220. Similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-7, the drip pan 214 includes apair of rails 40, 42 that are received in a pair of corresponding slots(not shown) in the frame 16. In a similar manner to the drip pan 14 ofFIGS. 1-7, a handle 44 of the drip pan 214 is operable by the user toslide the drip pan 14 between a cooking position (not shown) and acleaning position (see FIG. 8) relative to the grill housing 12. Thedrip pan 214 is positioned below the burners 26, 28 and the lower wall24 of the grill housing 12 when the drip pan 214 is positioned in thecooking position. The fluid pans 216 are configured to be removed fromthe drip pan 214 when the drip pan 214 is in the cleaning position.Additionally, the drip pan is removable from the frame 16.

As shown in FIG. 9, the tray 220 includes a bottom surface 222. A set ofside walls 224, 226, 228, and 230 extend upwardly from the bottomsurface 222. The handle 44 is secured to the side wall 222 while therails 40, 42 are secured to the side walls 226, 228, respectively.

The fluid pans 216 include a left burner pan 240, a right burner pan242, and a drain pan 244. When the drip pan 214 is retracted into theframe 16, the burner pans 240, 242 are positioned such that fluiddraining from the foodstuffs positioned on the grilling surface 22advances out of the grill housing 12 through the number of holes 34 andinto the burner pans 240, 242. In other embodiments, the fluid pans 216may include additional burner pans.

Referring now to FIG. 10, the burner pans 240, 242 and the drain pan 244have been removed from the drip pan 14. A plurality of rails 250 extendupwardly from the bottom surface 222 to support the burner pans 240, 242on the tray 220. For example, a pair of rails 252, 254 support the leftburner pan 240. When the left burner pan 240 is placed on the rails 252,254 and the drip pan 214 is positioned in its cooking position, the leftburner pan 240 is located below the burner 26. The rail 252 may beconfigured with a tab or other such structure to prevent the left burnerpan 240 from sliding in the tray 220.

Similarly, a pair of rails 256, 258 support the right burner pan 242.When the right burner pan 242 is placed on the rails 256, 258 and thedrip pan 214 is positioned in its cooking position, the right burner pan242 is located below the burner 26. Like the rail 252, the rail 256 maybe configured with a tab or other such structure to prevent the rightburner pan 242 from sliding in the tray 220.

As shown in FIG. 9, the right burner pan 242 is parallel to the leftburner pan 240 when the burner pans 240, 242 are positioned on the rails250.

In the illustrative embodiment described herein, one of the rails 250 isused to prevent improper placement of the fluid pans 216. For example,the rail 260 may be used to prevent a user from placing one of the fluidpans 216 in a position where the user cannot retract or extend the drippan 14. The rail 260 may also prevent the user from placing a burner panin a position that is not located below one of the burners. For example,in the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 10, the rail 260 is arrangeddiagonally on the bottom surface 222 of the tray 220. Among otherthings, such an arrangement prevents the user from improperly placingone of the fluid pans 216 in the center of the tray 220 at a locationwhere it would not be located below one of the holes 34 in the lowerwall 24 of the grill housing 12 through which grease flows. It should beappreciated that in other embodiments any number of rails, guides, tabs,or the like may be used to prevent improper placement of the fluid pans216 in the tray 220.

Referring to FIG. 11, each of the burner pans 240, 242 has a bottom wall262 with a number of side walls 264 extending upwardly therefrom. Theburner pans 240, 242 are contoured to engage the rails 250. For example,as illustrated in FIG. 12, the side walls 264 have elongated grooves266, 268 formed therein to receive the top surface of the rails 250.

In other embodiments, the tray 220 may be configured without rails(i.e., without the rails 250). In such embodiments, the bottom wall 262of the burner pans 240, 242 may contact the bottom surface 222 of thetray 220. Additionally, in such embodiments, the burner pans 240, 242may be sized to be in contact with each other and with the side walls226, 228 when the burner pans are positioned in tray 220. That is, oneside of the burner pan 240 may contact the side wall 226 and the otherside may contact the burner pan 242 when the burner pans are positionedin tray 220. Similarly, one side of burner pan 242 may contact the sidewall 228 and the other side may contact the burner pan 240 when theburner pans are positioned in tray 220. In such an embodiment, a spacerblock may also be used to separate the burner pans 240, 242.

The burner pans 240, 242 are located below the burners 26, 28,respectively, when the drip pan 214 is positioned in its cookingposition

Referring to FIG. 13, the drain pan 244 has a bottom wall 270 with anumber of side walls 272 extending upwardly therefrom. As shown in FIG.9, the drain pan 244 is positioned in the front of the tray 220 (i.e.,along the front side wall 224). In such a way, the drain pan 244 isarranged in a perpendicular relationship to the burner pans 240, 242.The bottom wall 270 of the drain pan 244 contacts the bottom surface 222of the tray 220. In other embodiments, the drain pan 244 may besupported by the use of additional rails 250.

In operation, the fluid pans 216 are positioned in the drip pan 214 tocollect fluid draining from the grill housing 12. In particular, theburner pans 240, 242 are positioned to collect fluid (i.e., grease)draining from foodstuffs being cooked on the grilling surface 22. Thegrease advances out of the grill housing 12 through the holes 34 andinto the burner pans 240, 242. The drain pan 244 is positioned tocollect rainwater or other moisture draining from the grill housing 12.In this way, grease and water are collected in separate fluid pans 216.

While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, such an illustration and descriptionis to be considered as exemplary and not restrictive in character, itbeing understood that only illustrative embodiments have been shown anddescribed and that all changes and modifications that come within thespirit of the disclosure are desired to be protected.

There are a plurality of advantages of the present disclosure arisingfrom the various features of the method, apparatus, and system describedherein. It will be noted that alternative embodiments of the method,apparatus, and system of the present disclosure may not include all ofthe features described yet still benefit from at least some of theadvantages of such features. Those of ordinary skill in the art mayreadily devise their own implementations of the method, apparatus, andsystem that incorporate one or more of the features of the presentinvention and fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosureas defined by the appended claims.

1. An outdoor cooking grill, comprising: a grilling surface, a firstheating element positioned below the grilling surface, a drip panpositioned below the first heating element, the drip pan comprising (i)a bottom wall and (ii) a first pair of rails extending upwardly from thebottom wall, the first pair of rails being positioned below the firstheating element, and a first fluid pan supported on the first pair ofrails of the drip pan, wherein the first fluid pan is removeable fromthe drip pan.
 2. The outdoor cooking grill of claim 1, furthercomprising a grill housing having a lower wall with a first number ofholes defined therein, wherein the lower wall is positioned between thefirst heating element and the first fluid pan such that fluid passesthrough the first number of holes and into the first fluid pan.
 3. Theoutdoor cooking grill of claim 2, further comprising a frame, wherein:the grill housing is secured to the frame, and the drip pan is moveablerelative to the grill housing.
 4. The outdoor cooking grill of claim 3,wherein the drip pan is removable from the frame.
 5. The outdoor cookinggrill of claim 1, further comprising: a second heating elementpositioned below the grilling surface, the drip pan further comprises asecond pair of rails extending upwardly from the bottom wall, the secondpair of rails being positioned below the second heating element, and asecond fluid pan supported by the second pair of rails of the drip pan,wherein the second fluid pan is removable from the drip pan.
 6. Theoutdoor cooking grill of claim 5, wherein: the lower wall of the grillhousing has a second number of holes defined therein, and the lower wallis positioned between the second heating element and the second fluidpan such that fluid passes through the second number of holes and intothe second fluid pan.
 7. The outdoor cooking grill of claim 6, furthercomprising a third fluid pan, wherein: the third fluid pan contacts thebottom wall of the drip pan, and the third fluid pan is removable fromthe drip pan.
 8. The outdoor cooking grill of claim 7, wherein thesecond fluid pan is positioned parallel to the first fluid pan in thedrip pan.
 9. The outdoor cooking grill of claim 8, wherein the thirdfluid pan is positioned perpendicular to the first fluid pan and thesecond fluid pan in the drip pan.
 10. The outdoor cooking grill of claim5, wherein the second fluid pan is positioned parallel to the firstfluid pan in the drip pan.
 11. The outdoor cooking grill of claim 1,further comprising a grill housing, wherein: the grill housing has afront panel with control knobs mounted thereto, and the drip pan ispositioned below the first panel of the grill housing.
 12. The outdoorcooking grill of claim 1, further comprising a lid secured to the grillhousing, wherein the lid rotates relative to the grill housing between:an open position in which the grilling surface is uncovered, and aclosed position in which the lid encloses the grilling surface.
 13. Theoutdoor cooking grill of claim 5, wherein: the first fluid pan has apair of grooves that receive the first pair of rails, and the secondfluid pan has a pair of grooves that receive the second pair of rails14. An outdoor cooking grill, comprising: a grill housing having a lowerwall, a grilling surface secured to the grill housing, a first heatingelement positioned below the grilling surface, a second heating elementpositioned below the grilling surface, a drip pan positioned below thefirst and second heating elements, the drip pan comprising (i) a bottomwall, (ii) a first pair of rails extending upwardly from the bottomwall, the first pair of rails being positioned below the first heatingelement, and (iii) a second pair of rails extending upwardly from thebottom wall, the second pair of rails being positioned below the secondheating element, a first removeable fluid pan supported by the firstpair of rails of the drip pan, and a second removeable fluid pansupported by the first pair of rails of the drip pan.
 15. The outdoorcooking grill of claim 15, wherein the lower wall has: a first number ofholes defined therein, and a second number of holes defined therein,wherein the lower wall is positioned between (i) the first heatingelement and the first fluid pan such that fluid passes through the firstnumber of holes and into the first fluid pan, and (ii) the secondheating element and the second fluid pan such that fluid passes throughthe second number of holes and into the second fluid pan.
 16. An outdoorcooking grill, comprising: a grilling surface, a first heating elementpositioned below the grilling surface, a second heating elementpositioned below the grilling surface, a drip pan positioned below thefirst and second heating elements, the drip pan comprising: (i) a firstremovable fluid pan positioned below the first heating element, (ii) asecond removable fluid pan positioned parallel to the first fluid pan inthe drip pan, and (iii) a third removable fluid pan positionedperpendicular to the first fluid pan and second fluid pan.
 17. Theoutdoor cooking grill of claim 17, further comprising: a frame, and agrill housing secured to the frame, wherein the drip pan is moveablerelative to the grill housing.